Italien lakes and Venice

Thank you, I hope the weather this year will be better than last. As I mentioned we had planned this trip last year but with flooding and landslips we changed plans. 

Yes planning on going via Switzerland, we will come back via Austria and then Germany. The route from Switzerland should drop us nicely into Maggiore I think. 

We have 8 weeks from Calais to Calais, so should have time to enjoy each place enough, to give us an idea if we want to go back again and spend more time exploring  1 or 2 areas in the future.

Many years ago when we lived in Germany, we used to go to Italy with our boys. We have driven down the Med coast and stayed at a site south of Pisa. We have also been south of Venice to Ravenna a few times, Grado once and Bibione once.

First visit was in 1981 in a small 3/4 berth caravan the boys were 3 and 6 years old. No mains electrics in the van, no fridge etc but the boys loved the shallow sea at Grado, perfect play ground for that age. Last camping visit to Italy was 1990 at Bibione.

Will see how things pan out, if it's OK then happy to explore further south at another time. The areas we have not visited is between Pisa and Rome and south of Solerno. 

Bibione is a haven for cycling with a 25km circular cycle route starting outside Camping Capalonga along the Beach area to the main town and back via a different route. Most of the route is on dedicated  cycle paths. In addition a 1Euro ferry takes cyclists across the Taglaimento river  to Lignano where another circular cycle route starts. Next to Capalonga another cycle ferry takes riders and bikes through the lagoon to Brussa (handy for Mazaracks) and to Caorle etc. There’s a cycle path along the Tagliamento river to Cesarolo and Latisana but much on the path is fine gravel which is not so road bike friendly. May is a great time to cycle, in July and August it can be very hot but there are lots of refreshment stops on route. You can see the routes on ‘Bikemap’.

Thanks Dave, that sound perfect for a few days after Venice. 

When we stayed there bikes were not a thought, with 2 boys it was always the beach. 

If you are going to Maggiore there are a couple of nice sites in Cannobio. It’s about 9km from Locarno so no need to travel a long way down the lake. Have been there many times.

We last visited Venice in 2015 on our way back from Croatia. We stayed on the mainland and caught a bus from outside the campsite to Venice. Here's a link.

camping serenissima

The bus crosses the causeway to Venice to the bus terminus at the Piazzale Roma. From there you can follow the signs through the alleyways and across canals to the Rialto Bridge and the Grand Canal, and then the Piazza San Marco.

Make sure you know how to get back to the bus stop! You can always take the Number One ‘ Vaporetto’ back up the Grand Canal and back to the bus.

Thanks Hitchglitch and Chasandcathvery useful info 

It's not just Whitsun (Pfingsten) that's busy with Germans, but the 1st and the 9th May are public holidays in both Germany and most of Switzerland, and many take the time off in between. The 1st May is also a public holiday in Italy.

We have, over the years, been to Venice many many times.  Pre 'bucket & spade" holidays (a long time ago), Camping Miramare was our go-to campsite for Venice but then we moved back up the coast towards Jesolo for the beach access. Although some way away from the ferry, there is an excellent bus service that runs up and down the peninsula.

We were last in Miramare in October 2019 on our way south.  It is a very convenient campsite for the ferry with good facilities.  The only caution I would make is, if you go there and sit outside, make sure you have good mosquito protection.

Thanks Lutz, yes I am aware of the other 2 holidays in May. I looked up all public and school holidays during our time away. We've been caught out before so always check each country now. 🙂

With a bit of luck we will be in Italy by the 1st.  As its a Wednesday, I don't forsee it being to busy, like it is when it's at the end or begining of a week. 

By Pfingsten we hope to be the other side of Venice and on our way to Slovenia. 

TG

Here is a map of the water bus routes in Venice if it helps to decide where to stay.  

David